Press operating mechanism



11, 1936- c. s. MALOTT, JR

PRESS OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 11, 1955 INVENTOR CLIFTON S. MALOTT JR.

Y M522 M 14 AT TORNIfl Patented Aug. 11, 1936 PRESS OPERATING MECHANISM Clifton S. Malott, Jr., Norwood, Ohio, assignor to The American Laundry Machinery Company,

" Nor-wood, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 11, 1935, Serial No. 1,326

4 Claims. (Cl. 192-133) This invention relates to a pressing machine and more especially to improved control mechanism therefor.

My improved pressing machine includes a 5 guard movable into and out of position between the pressing members and an operator, to guard the latter against injury. The control mechanism for this guard comprises a motor which upon completion of movement of the guard to l protecting position causes the action of the press closing means thus insuring that the guard will always be in protecting positon when the pressing members are moved into final engagement.

Another feature of my invention is the provi- 15 sion of a cylinder and piston motor for moving the guard to protecting position, power means for closing the press, and means operable upon a predetermined travel of the guard moving piston for actuating the press closing power means.

20 My improved control mechanism provides a cylinder and piston motor for moving a guard to guarding position with a port in the cylinder wall adapted to be uncovered by the piston when it has moved the guard to guarding position and this port communicates with a fluid actuated power means for closing the press. My invention therefore provides a structure which insures that the guard is in guarding position before the press closing means acts.

3 Other objects and advantages of my invention include a single control valve which remains in supply or exhaust position upon movement thereto by the operator. This construction provides a very simple press to operate.

35 In the drawing 1 have illustrated a form of mechanism devised to carry out the above objects and purposes which will be clearly understood from the attached specification and the essential features will be summarized in the 40 claims.

In the drawing, Fig. l is an end elevation of a pressing machine embodying my invention with the parts in open position and with portions thereof in sectionto more clearly illustrate the 45 operation; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the guard in closed position; while Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

I have illustrated my invention as applied to a pressing-machine having a frame l0 upon 50 which is mounted in fixed position a pressing bed ll. Upon a portion of the frame is pivotally mounted a head lever l2 which carries at its free end a pressing head which is adapted to coact with the bed memberv I I. For moving 55 the head into and out of pressing engagement 1 provide a toggle mechanism l4 connected be-- tween the head lever and the frame and having an operative connection with a motor I! which comprises a cylinder IS in which reciprocates a piston H. A spring l8 connected be- 5 tween the. toggles and the frame biases the toggles to broken position, thus maintaining the head in its raised or open position.

For protecting the operator against injury as the pressing members close, I have provided a 10 guard l9 adapted to be moved into and out of protecting position between the operator and the pressing members. This guard as shown comprises a frame 21] supporting a protecting grille 2| but it will be understood that my invention is applicable to any suitable guard. For moving the guard I have provided a bellcrank 22 pivotally mounted on the frame and in the present instance having the same pivot as the head lever. The short arm 23 of the bellcrank is connected with the guard and the longer arm 24 of the bellcrank extends downwardly and has an operating connection with a. power motor 25. This motor comprises. a cylinder 26 in which reciprocates a piston 21 whose piston rod 28 has a pivot and slot connection 29 with the arm 24 of the bellcrank. A spring 30 between the bellcrank and the frame biases the guard to its raised or open position.

Means is provided to insure that the guard 30 operating motor 25 will complete its stroke to move the guard into protecting position before the press closing motor. is is actuated to close the press. In the present instance I have provided a port 3| in the wall of cylinder 26 which communicates by an open passageway 32 with the working face of piston l'|.- The port II is so positioned as to communicate with the working portion of cylinder 26 when piston 21 has completed its power stroke so. that when the 40 parts reach the position of Fig. 2 working fluid 3 from cylinder 26 will pass out. of port 3| so that fluid passing through the passageway 32 is available to actuate the press closing means. A secand port 33 in the wall of cylinder 26 communicates with the atmosphere and is positioned so as to lie beyond the working face of piston 21 when it has completed its power stroke and the parts reach the position of Fig. 2. It results from this construction that with the parts in the open position of Fig. 1, cylinder I6 is incommunication with the atmosphere through passageway 32, port 3|, cylinder 26 and port 33, whereas when the piston 21 has cmnpleted its power stroke and moved the guard into protecting position, as shown in Fig. 2, piston 21 has closed the exhaust port 33 and opened port 3| so that motive fluid may pass out of cylinder 26 into cylinder l6 to operate piston H.

The supply of motive fluid to the power mechanism is by way of a combined flow and exhaust conduit 34 in communication between cylinder 26 and valve casing 35. While I have illustrated one form of valve suitable for my purpose, it will be understood that any form of valve is suitable which remains in its supply or exhaust position upon movement thereto by the operator. In the valve casing 35 I have illustrated a movable member 36 having a passageway 31 therein for establishing communication between conduit 34 and the exhaust outlet 38 when the valve parts are in the position of Fig. 1. The member 36 is so constructed that it closes the outlet 38 and establishes communication between conduit 34 and a source of motive fluid 39 when the valve parts are in the position of Fig. 2. For moving the valve member 31 I have provided the latter with a stem 40 having a connection with a manual 4|.

In the operation of the pressing machine described and with the parts in the position of Fig. 1, the operator arranges the work upon the bed H and moves the manual 4| from the position of Fig. 1 to the position of Fig. 2. Motive fluid then travels through conduit 39, casing 35 and conduit, 34 to cylinder 26 against the working face of piston 21 causing a power stroke of the latter. When the guard reaches protecting position, piston 21 is in the position of Fig. 2 and motive fluid flows from cylinder 26 through passageway 32 to the working face of piston I! in cylinder l6. Piston ll then makes a power stroke which straightens the toggles and moves the pressing members into pressing engagement. The parts will remain in this positionuntil the operator returns manual 4| to the position of Fig. 1. This will exhaust fluid from motor I! through passage 32, cylinder 26, conduit 34, casing 35 and outlet 38 thus permitting spring I8 to open the press. As soon as piston 21 moves to the right of port 3|, cylinder l6 completes its evacuation through the port 33, while cylinder It continues to evacuate through conduit 34 and outlet 38 while spring 30 returns the guard to its open position.

I have illustrated motors I5 and as combined in a common structure but it will be understood that this is mainly for convenience and that these units may be separated if desired.

What I claim is:

1. In a pressing machine, a pair of coacting relatively movable pressing members, fluid actuated power means for relatively moving said members to close the press, a guard movable into and out of position for protecting an operator against injury, a cylinder and piston motor for moving said guard to protecting position, a port in said cylinder uncovered by said piston when said guard is in protecting position. and-a passageway leading from said port to said power means.

2. In a pressing machine, a pair of coacting relatively movable pressing members, a guard movable into and out of position for protecting an operator against injury, a cylinder and piston motor for moving said guard to protecting position, an open port in said cylinder uncovered by said piston when said guard is in protecting position, and means actuated by fluid escaping from said port for relatively moving said pressing members to close the press.

3. In a pressing machine, a pair of coacting relatively movable pressing members, means for moving one of said members to close the press including fluid actuated power means, a guard movable into and out of position for protecting an operator against injury, a cylinder and piston motor having an operative connection for moving said guard to protecting position, inlet and outlet ports communicating with said power means for controlling the flow and exhaust of motive fluid thereto, and said ports being arranged so that said piston closes said outlet port and opens saidinlet port when said ,motor has moved said guard to protecting position.

4. In a. pressing machine, a pair of coacting relatively movable pressing members, means including a cylinder and piston motor for relatively moving said members to close the press, a guard movable into and out of guarding position between said pressing members and an operator, means for moving said guard including a cylinder and piston motor having a power stroke adapted to move said guard to guarding position, a port in the cylinder wall of said guard moving motor adapted to communicate with the motive fluid in the said motor when it has completed its power stroke, an open passageway leading from said port to the working face of said press-closing motor, a second port in the cylinder wall of said guard moving motor lying beyond the working face of the piston of said guard moving motor when it has completed its power stroke, said second port communicating with the atmosphere,

and a fluid supply conduit communicating with said guard moving motor.

CLIFTON S. MALOTT, JR. 

